Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Keycompetencies
Outsideinterests
Professional Development
Timeline
Generic

Paul Fifield

Palmerston North

Summary

A highly successful Senior Leader who has a proven track record of delivering strong strategic outcomes. Excellent leadership skills, exceptional relationship management skills combined with the ability to be successful in developing solutions that consistently grow market share. A manager that galvanises teams in periods of uncertainty or change, with a ‘hands on’ approach as required along with financial acumen, negotiation skills, risk management and an knack of providing vision and strategic concepts.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Branch Manager

Perpetual Guardian
01.2016 - Current
  • Providing professional management of and growing business by delivering excellent service
  • Provide coaching to Client Managers and advice to clients of a technical nature to assist with providing innovative solutions whilst pro-actively introducing them to our wider products and services
  • Actively manage, develop and strengthen a network of professionals with a view to educate, engage and develop reciprocal business arrangements for mutual benefit
  • Contribute to the Senior Leadership team
  • Collaborate, lead and influence the business to develop a strategic plan, contributing regional factors and nuisances to assist in providing direction
  • Drive a culture of continuous improvement, sharing successes, accountability and innovation across the team
  • Achieve revenue and operating profit targets
  • Profitably grow the business in terms of both funds under management and the revenue generated from these
  • Deliver, manage and monitor high quality service that meets or exceeds client expectations
  • Is engaging with them, understanding their requirements and by tailoring a solution / call program to meet and/or exceed these
  • Product promotion and saturation
  • Promote and personally deliver a greater product and service offering to all clients including the integration of client investments into the Company’s wider offering
  • Compliance and risk management
  • Stay abreast of all company and legislative standards and requirements
  • Act within individual delegated authority at all times
  • The Palmerston North branch achieved 102.2% of plan for the year ending 30 June 2022, 110.9% of plan for the year ending 30 June 2021, 105.8% for the year ending 2020 and 112.1% for the year ending 2019
  • The only branch to achieve growth year on year on year
  • Been recognised as extremely influential by Senior Leadership within the business in creating a proactive workforce, through my behaviours and leadership
  • Being engaged as a specialist in the Rural stream of the business, holding the largest rural portfolio in the business
  • Achieved a Net Promotor Score (Customer Service) of 83
  • This is in the top 2 for Perpetual Guardian
  • Through my achievements within the Palmerston North branch, I was then asked to take on the leadership of Nelson and Queenstown branches from 01 April 2022
  • I was also asked to participate in a Leadership Management Training Programme (L.E.A.D.) alongside 11 other senior leaders within PG
  • This is being run by an external provider – Advisory Works
  • Relieving Head of Branch Network, I am now called upon at regular intervals to relieve in the above role

Chief Executive Officer

Cloud Farm Limited
01.2014 - 01.2016
  • Leading a ‘start-up’ company to ensure progressive and successful development in all phases of its operations
  • Lead the company’s future growth path, leveraging off the current position and develop processes, systems and strategies to ensure robust plans are implemented
  • Developing and implementing strategies to ensure activities meet with organisational requirements for quality management, legal stipulations, environmental policies and values
  • Establish, manage and monitor Health & Safety standards, processes, communications, training and systems to ensure the workplace is safe and without risk to health
  • Delivery of Plans
  • Provide a link between the company’s vision, strategic plan and position in order to enable realisation of the financial and organisational objectives
  • Recruit, manage and lead effective managerial and operational teams that will enable financial success and growth nationally
  • To continually improve the positioning of the company within its “markets of interest” to its customers, adding value to all parties and stakeholders
  • Monitoring, measuring and reporting on operational issues, opportunities and development plans and achievements within agreed formats and timeframes
  • Liaise with the Board to ensure understanding of all necessary aspects and needs of operational development, growth objectives, purposes and achievements
  • Managed the establishment of policies, procedures, contracts and documentation to support future growth
  • Built a high performing team that not only meets but consistently exceeds our clients expectations
  • Created an environment of ‘continual improvement’ whereby all team members look for every opportunity to see what’s really possible and how can we improve the experience for our clients
  • Successfully identified and executed an acquisition strategy in key market areas
  • Successfully created an on-boarding and after sales experience that has resulted in further referral business from both farmers and their associated farm advisors

Business Banking Area Manager – Manawatu / Taranaki

Westpac NZ Limited
01.2007 - 01.2014
  • Leading a team of 14 Commercial and Business Banking relationship Managers along with Business Analysts to identify and establishing new business opportunities, to secure and grow business across all customer portfolios
  • Networking, connecting and leveraging customers, business advisors and key influencers
  • Balancing this with the portfolio planning, profit & loss management, people management and an operational / risk management framework across $696m asset / liability book
  • Developing and implementing strategies to drive both customer and shareholder value improvement
  • Delivery of plans
  • Growth, revenue and expense
  • Relationship Management
  • Lead and drive a culture that builds healthy long term win-win relationships and inspires a customer centric approach
  • Championing continuous improvement
  • Including sales and service processes
  • Management of risk
  • Developing strategies that ensure we have the right processes in place
  • Lead change
  • Builds a thorough understanding of the need for change and leads the team through the journey
  • Consistent top quartile asset growth for Business Banking NZ including being the number 1 Area for Equipment Finance Gross Volume $19.8m throughout Westpac NZ Limited 2013
  • Also the highest Net Growth year on year
  • Number 1 Area for Liability growth year on year
  • Achieved two ‘satisfactory’ audit ratings in a row in 2012 and 2014
  • Delivered a top quartile NPS (Net Promoter Score) for the year ending 2012 and maintained this in 2013
  • Recognised by Senior Management as a top performer every year including receiving a ‘Legend’ nomination

Retail Area Manager – Gisborne / Hawkes Bay / Manawatu (Taranaki)

Westpac NZ Limited
01.2004 - 01.2007
  • Leading a team of circa 140 staff across 17 branches to drive and implement sales and service program’s to deliver a stronger customer experience and deliver financial plans
  • Developing and implementing local strategies to drive both customer and shareholder value improvement
  • Leading sales force effectiveness
  • Customer experience objectives
  • Delivery of plans
  • Growth, revenue and expense
  • Management of risk
  • Succession Planning
  • Establishment of learning and development programs to support growth and retention of key staff
  • Employee engagement – driving advocacy through the brand
  • Turned around the Area Performance and profitability in 18 months from last out of the 10 Areas to First across all Sales, Service and Risk metrics
  • Achieved a PLI (People Leaders Index) of 96% from direct reports where the bank average was
  • This was acknowledge through the presentation of the Gold CEO Award (1 of 8)
  • One of only two Areas to exceed Asset growth targets, market share and exceed revenue plans year on year
  • Led (jointly) a Personal Loan project to drive increased market share and improve margin / profitability across the Organisation

Branch and District Manager

GE Finance & Insurance
01.1999 - 01.2004
  • Leading half of the New Zealand branch network (Napier / Palmerston North / New Plymouth though to Dunedin – 9 branches and 38 FTE) to achieve sales and service objectives
  • Lead the properties, compliance, marketing and human resource functions for New Zealand with a direct reporting line into Melbourne
  • Developing and implementing New Zealand marketing plans and strategies to drive both customer and shareholder value improvement
  • Delivery of plans
  • Productivity, growth, revenue and expense plans
  • Management of delinquency
  • Management of Risk
  • Project Ownership / Continuous Improvement using the Six Sigma methodology – DMAIC
  • Developing and maintaining a footprint (Branch Network) to maximize returns, margin, visibility as well as identifying potential future sites and building the business cases associated with this
  • Increased receivables book by an average of 38% year on year from 2001
  • Increase revenue by 156% of plan over the same period, over doubling the after tax profit
  • Reduced the level of arrears from 16.4% to 3.1%
  • Achieved an upgrade of audit ratings from ‘unsatisfactory’ to ‘strong’ across all branches in my Area
  • Lead and rolled out a Real Estate process across the country that saw a 261% increase in Mortgages written in the 2003-04 year
  • Received a ‘CEO Halberg Award’ for my achievements in 2003

Education

Adviserlink Introduction to Financial Planning - Honours

Certificate of Banking -

Bankers Institute of New Zealand

Advanced Cohort - Excelerator Leadership Programme

Auckland University Management School

Ignite Leadership Coaching Programme -

Forton Group

Skills

  • Leadership
  • People Management
  • Financial Acumen
  • Business Frameworks
  • Relationship Management
  • Branch operations management

Keycompetencies

Clearly communicates vision, strategy, objectives, priorities and timeframes. Drives an inclusive culture encouraging open and frank discussions, one that fosters a climate of teamwork, buy-in and earns discretionary effort. Seeks and leads opportunities for continual improvement., Motivates, coaches and manages staff towards the achievement of goals. Provides regular feedback, including documented performance management. Has a good understanding of employment law and addresses poor performance. Nurtures and develops high performers., Extensive exposure across all aspects of financial statements and a track record of commercial success by creating value as well as managing costs / margins. Understands cash flows and is able interpret these, analyse and provide strong financial direction through forecasting and financial management., Drives an innovative approach with a focus on business improvement, maximisation of resources and operational success. Understands risk and manages this whilst maximising the desired outcome for the organisation. Ensures effective people and capability management to ensure organisational culture is aligned to performance and outcomes., Develops and builds long-term, strategic and sustainable relationships with customers / business partners, takes the time to understand the customer’s business and requirements; develops solutions that create win-win opportunities, manages expectations and builds respect.

Outsideinterests

  • Socialising with friends and family
  • Spending time at our beach property at Foxton Beach
  • Cycling and walking
  • Trustee – Palmerston North Cossie Club

Professional Development

  • L.E.A.D Management Training
  • Auckland University Management School – Advanced Cohort – Excelerator Leadership Programme
  • Forton Group – Ignite Leadership Coaching Programme
  • Led the successful acquisition of the Manawatu Business Excellence Awards
  • Westpac General Manager change forum representative
  • Westpac representative at the Finsec Union Negotiations
  • Finalist judge at the Taranaki and Manawatu Business Excellence Awards
  • Three years as Treasurer on the Whakarongo School Board of Trustees
  • Three years as Chairperson on the Whakarongo School Board of Trustees
  • Adviserlink Introduction to Financial Planning with Honours
  • Bankers Institute of New Zealand – Certificate of Banking

Timeline

Branch Manager

Perpetual Guardian
01.2016 - Current

Chief Executive Officer

Cloud Farm Limited
01.2014 - 01.2016

Business Banking Area Manager – Manawatu / Taranaki

Westpac NZ Limited
01.2007 - 01.2014

Retail Area Manager – Gisborne / Hawkes Bay / Manawatu (Taranaki)

Westpac NZ Limited
01.2004 - 01.2007

Branch and District Manager

GE Finance & Insurance
01.1999 - 01.2004

Certificate of Banking -

Bankers Institute of New Zealand

Advanced Cohort - Excelerator Leadership Programme

Auckland University Management School

Ignite Leadership Coaching Programme -

Forton Group

Adviserlink Introduction to Financial Planning - Honours

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Paul Fifield